Pentecostal Eyewitness
On May 31, we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, which is documented in Acts 2:2-4 KJV - “There came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Many churches ignore the Pentecostal experience. But I believe that God gave Gifts of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost to strengthen, unify, and enable the Church even today. In this article, I want to share some powerful experiences that I have seen in the Pentecostal church.
For seven decades, I have witnessed people being gloriously saved and healed of deadly diseases. Sometimes, the ill and infirm stood in long lines waiting for elders to lay hands upon them (Mark 16:17,18) and to be anointed with oil (James 5:14).
I have seen the demon-possessed set free, and those addicted to filthy habits delivered. Individuals have been “slain” in the Spirit, and prostrated on the floor for hours worshiping the Lord (1 Kings 8:10-11; John 18:5-6). When the Holy Spirit filled some people, they danced, shook, shouted, rolled, ran, jumped, laughed, swayed, or stood still like a post. Some people were loud, while others quietly shut themselves in with God.
On many occasions and without any human request, the whole congregation would form a line and begin to march around inside the building while singing a song of victory. We called it a “Jericho March,” and it often featured a hymn like “Hold the Fort.” As one, we took out our hankies and “waved the answer back to Heaven.”
In some instances, we felt the “warm blanket” of the Holy Spirit settled upon the entire congregation as we silently soaked in the Shekinah Glory of God. Then, as though led by a heavenly choirmaster, we began to sing in the Spirit, and delighted in the power and majesty of God. Priceless!
Once, when a woman gave a message in tongues and it was interpreted by someone else (1 Corinthians 14), a visitor from the Soviet Union later asked the pastor if she could meet the woman who spoke “high” Russian, and the other person who interpreted. She committed to Christ because of that experience.
Few things are as powerful as hearing children and adults praise the Lord in the glorious tongues of Heaven. Even more wonderful is to pray in the Spirit in your own home (Matthew 3:11; Acts 11:16).
Friends, I have not seen it all, but all I have seen is amazing and affirming. Pentecost is alive and well. I challenge you to drink at the well of life (John 4:14) and be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)!